What are the benifits gained by using transformers?

What are the benifits gained by using transformers in th transmission and distribution of electrical energy?



College homework, Again =(What are the benifits gained by using transformers?Current flowing along a wire heats it up (and looses energy in other ways too), and the more current flowing, the more energy is lost.



If you want to send some energy along a wire you can have a high voltage and low current or low voltage and higher current.



To loose as little energy as possible in the wires you send as small a current as possible and this means using a high voltage. Now, at the far end - where the end user is - the voltage will be too high so a transformer is used to reduce it to a level that can be used.



Basically, using a transformer means you loose less energy.





Coupled with this there are other benefits, for example, you can use thinner copper in the cables at high voltage (again - due to low current) so save money in materialsWhat are the benifits gained by using transformers?welllllll they can disguse themselves as cars, boats, helicopters you name they can do it................ why................ because they're robots in disguse!!!





sorry - and yes I deserve that thumbs down!!!!What are the benifits gained by using transformers?Most machines and appliances use relatively low voltages to accomplish their function. The use of high voltages is dangerous because of insulation and safetly issues. Also, generators are optimized for relatively low voltages for the same reasons. By relatively low voltage, I mean less than 1,000 volts.



At these voltages, a certain current is required to do the work at hand. This relates to power, such that for a given appliance and a given task, a certain amount of power is required. P = V * I, so as voltage goes down, current must go up for the power to remain the same. The opposite is also true, as V goes up, I comes down for power to remain the same.



When transporting power, one must consider the resistance of the connecting wires, especially if they are very long (like 10's or 100's of miles). So, if you want to move 1MW (1 million watts) over a transmission line, the power lost to the line will be: Ploss = (Iline)^2 * Rline. To keep Ploss low, you want to reduce Iline as much as possible. This is done by increasing the transmission voltage, which is where transformers come in.



Transformers convert a low voltage to a high voltage and vice versa. This allows power to be trasferred over long distances with less loss.